Among U.S. towns with similar household incomes, Potsdam is healthier than 99%
Potsdam differs from New York on 20 of 32 measures CDC estimates: 10 better, 10 worse.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Potsdam. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Potsdam
Mental distress runs high in Potsdam
1 in 4 adults are in frequent mental distress (23.1%), vs 15% across New York. Depression is above the state too: 25.9%, vs 17.5% across New York. Mind & connection ↓
Potsdam is healthier than its income would predict
Against all U.S. towns, Potsdam is healthier than 74%. Against the 1,180 towns with similar household incomes ($26K–$43K), it’s healthier than 99%. Health Grade ↓
Binge drinking is the habit Potsdam doesn’t win on
22.7% of adults binge drink, vs 16.3% across New York. Smoking and exercise are about at the state’s level. Habits ↓
Diabetes and stroke are less common in Potsdam
Potsdam runs below New York on eight chronic conditions, most of all diabetes (5.3% vs 11.5%), stroke (1.6% vs 3.4%) and cancer (3.7% vs 7.7%). A young population is part of it: only 10% of residents are 65 or older (New York 18%). Conditions ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the New York figure falls outside Potsdam’s likely range.
What’s behind Potsdam’s grade
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Potsdam is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns, #338 of 755 in New York. Diabetes holds the grade up (fewer adults with diabetes than almost every U.S. town); mental distress pulls it down (near the bottom of U.S. towns).
Health estimates follow income closely across the country: towns with higher household incomes usually score higher (a correlation of 0.77 across 21,157 graded towns). Potsdam’s median household income is $34,546; among the 1,180 U.S. towns within 25% of that ($26K–$43K), it’s healthier than 99%, more than its income alone would suggest.
Most New York towns score higher on these estimates than towns elsewhere, so within the state Potsdam is healthier than 55% of graded towns, against 74% nationally.
How Potsdam adults are doing
On 3 of 4 measures, Potsdam runs above New York.
2 in 5 Potsdam adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Everyday habits, side by side with New York
Share of adults, with the New York figure marked.
9.9 miles of trails across 9 parks and preserves
Out of every 100 Potsdam adults…
Potsdam runs below NY on 8 of 12 conditions and above it on 3. Tap one to see it as people.
Only 10% of Potsdam residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across New York. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis run low partly because the town is young.
Care in and near Potsdam
1 hospital in Potsdam, plus the nearest just outside it.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Potsdam; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Potsdam adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks New York.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
16.4% of Potsdam adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14.1% across New York.
Potsdam and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potsdam | B+ | 35.6% | 5.3% | 10% | CDC place |
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Potsdam adults live with a disability (New York 27.2%). Thinking or memory is the most common.
Every CDC estimate for Potsdam
Share of adults, 40 measures, with CDC’s likely range.
On the 32 measures below that have a better and a worse direction, Potsdam is better than New York on 10 and worse on 10; on the rest, the New York figure falls inside Potsdam’s likely range, so we call them about the same. Disability and SNAP are described, not compared as better or worse.
| Adults who… | Potsdam | NY | U.S. | vs NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall health | ||||
| Fair or poor health | 15.1%13.1–17.2 | 18.1% | 19.4% | Better |
| Frequent physical distress (physical health not good 14+ days a month) | 10.6%9.2–11.9 | 12.8% | 13% | Better |
| Frequent mental distress (mental health not good 14+ days a month) | 23.1%20.7–25.5 | 15% | 15.9% | Worse |
| Conditions | ||||
| Obesity | 35.6%30.7–40.5 | 28.8% | 32.9% | Worse |
| Diabetes | 5.3%4.6–6.1 | 11.5% | 12% | Better |
| High blood pressure | 20.8%18.5–23.2 | 32.6% | 34.4% | Better |
| High cholesterol (adults screened in 5 years) | 22.6%20.3–25.1 | 37.7% | 37.1% | Better |
| Arthritis | 13.3%11.9–14.8 | 24% | 25.3% | Better |
| Asthma | 12.2%10.8–13.5 | 10.3% | 9.9% | Worse |
| Cancer, other than skin cancer | 3.7%3.3–4.1 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Better |
| Coronary heart disease | 3%2.7–3.4 | 6.1% | 6.4% | Better |
| COPD | 4.2%3.7–4.8 | 6% | 6.3% | Better |
| Stroke | 1.6%1.5–1.8 | 3.4% | 3.4% | Better |
| Lost all teeth (ages 65+) | 13.2%10.9–16 | 12.8% | 12.3% | About the same |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 10%8.4–11.8 | 11.3% | 11.8% | About the same |
| No exercise outside work | 22.5%19.1–25.9 | 25.9% | 24.7% | About the same |
| Binge drinking | 22.7%19.4–26.2 | 16.3% | 15.4% | Worse |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 36.3%31.9–41.1 | 37.9% | 36% | About the same |
| Checkups and coverage | ||||
| No health insurance (ages 18–64) | 6.7%5.5–7.9 | 7.9% | 11% | About the same |
| Checkup in the past year | 75.9%72.3–79.2 | 80.8% | 77.4% | Worse |
| Dentist visit in the past year | 62.1%58.8–65.4 | 63.5% | 63.2% | About the same |
| Cholesterol check in 5 years | 75.1%72.1–78 | 89.2% | 87.1% | Worse |
| Taking blood pressure medicine (adults with high blood pressure) | 55.6%53.2–57.9 | 77.2% | 76.5% | Worse |
| Colorectal cancer screening (ages 45–75) | 63.4%59.1–67.8 | 66.8% | 65.5% | About the same |
| Mammogram in 2 years (women 50–74) | 77.3%71.5–82.5 | 78.9% | 76.4% | About the same |
| Mind and connection | ||||
| Ever told they have depression | 25.9%22.7–29.2 | 17.5% | 20.6% | Worse |
| Feel lonely | 42.1%37.4–46.6 | 34.2% | 32.5% | Worse |
| Lack social and emotional support | 26.8%23.4–30.4 | 26.4% | 23.6% | About the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Worried about having enough food | 18.6%15.9–21.4 | 17.2% | 15% | About the same |
| Worried about keeping housing | 14.4%12.5–16.5 | 14.5% | 12% | About the same |
| Threatened with a utility shut-off | 8.7%7.6–9.9 | 8.2% | 7.6% | About the same |
| Lack reliable transportation | 13%11.4–14.5 | 8.6% | 7.9% | Worse |
| Received SNAP (food stamps) | 16.4%13.9–18.9 | 14.1% | 11.6% | About the same |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 29.4%25.8–33 | 27.2% | 30.1% | About the same |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 6.9%5.9–7.9 | 13.4% | 13.6% | Lower |
| Difficulty concentrating or remembering | 18.9%16.8–21 | 12.1% | 13.9% | Higher |
| Hearing difficulty | 3.7%3.3–4.2 | 5.6% | 6.7% | Lower |
| Vision difficulty | 4.6%4.1–5 | 5.2% | 5.4% | Lower |
| Difficulty doing errands alone | 9.6%8.5–10.7 | 7.7% | 7.9% | Higher |
| Difficulty dressing or bathing | 2.4%2.1–2.7 | 3.8% | 3.8% | Lower |
Each figure is the share of adults 18+ unless the label says otherwise; small numbers after it are CDC’s likely range (95% interval). “About the same” means the New York figure falls inside that range.
Questions about health in Potsdam
Is Potsdam a healthy place to live?
On seven CDC estimates for adults, Potsdam is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns: B+ for health, #338 of 755 in New York. These are modeled estimates of who lives there, not a measure of local care or habits alone.
What is the obesity rate in Potsdam?
CDC estimates 35.6% of adults have obesity, likely between 30.7% and 40.5%, against 28.8% across New York and 32.9% nationally.
What hospital is closest to Potsdam?
Canton-Potsdam Hospital in Potsdam, 0.4 miles in a straight line from Potsdam’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room; Medicare rates it 2 of 5 stars.
How many people in Potsdam have no health insurance?
CDC estimates 6.7% of adults ages 18–64 have no health insurance (likely 5.5–7.9%), against 7.9% across New York.
How accurate are these numbers?
They’re modeled estimates: CDC applies national survey answers to each area’s age, sex, race and education mix, so they describe who lives in Potsdam more than anything measured there. At the ends of CDC’s ranges the grade could be anywhere from B to A−.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Potsdam.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The New York figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. The Health Grade is our own summary of CDC’s estimates, not an official rating. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.